A Barbaric Proposal Chapter 92

※Poisoning (1)※

[Randall] "It’s not that I’m unhappy about Sir Weroz’s return."

Randall spoke firmly.

[Randall] "I expected some friction with the guards for a while. Personally, I prefer having Sir Weroz around. I don't know what the Captain eats to be such a stiff-necked old man at his age... actually, please forget I said that.”

[Randall] "Regardless, while there is no physical evidence, I have a bad feeling. Not about the guards, but about the men who brought Sir Weroz back."

Liene understood his point. She agreed that it would take time for things to settle into place.

[Liene] "Setting aside their uncertain identities, there must be a reason why you find them suspicious."

[Randall] "Well... if I had to say, it’s because they didn't ask for payment first?"

[Liene] "Are they not seeking a reward?"

[Randall] "Think about it, Your Highness. What would people want after finding a patient on the road and bringing them home? Money, or the honor of having done a good deed. If they wanted money, they should have stated a price upfront.”

[Randall] "Nauk isn't exactly an easy place to visit. They traveled for two days, so they must have spent quite a bit on travel expenses. Yet, they seem interested in neither."

Klima, who had been standing behind Liene like a silent shadow, nodded in agreement.

[Klima] "I... I feel uncom—uncomfortable. It’s just strange."

Randall asked with a puzzled expression.

[Randall] "Youngest, why are you stuttering? Are you sick?"

[Klima] "N-No, it’s just... I'm worried..."

Liene was actually the one surprised.

[Liene] "Was he not always like this?"

[Klima] "......N-No……."

[Liene] "You’ve always spoken to me this way."

[Klima] "No... that... that's......."

Randall clicked his tongue in pity.

[Randall] "How can you be so nervous? The intruders will look at you and wonder what's wrong."

[Klima] "......I-I will do well. I'll do my best."

[Randall] "Right, then."

Though the conversation had strayed, a conclusion was needed.

[Liene] "Let’s do this. It’s too late tonight, so let them stay. We will send them off tomorrow after providing a meal."

[Randall] "That... well, I suppose that can't be helped. However, we must keep a close watch on them."

[Liene] "Make sure they don't notice."

[Randall] "Of course."

By the time they finished talking, the night had grown even deeper.

[Liene] "It seems Lord Tiwakan will be even later than expected."

When she asked in passing, Randall’s face turned slightly bashful for some reason.

[Randall] "Considering the travel time to the temple, it seems so."

[Liene] "I suppose."

Because Klima kept saying he felt strange, Liene felt as though she was being influenced by his unease.

[Liene] "Then I shall be going. I leave the night in your hands."

[Randall] "Do not worry too much. I will stand guard until my Lord returns."

Today had been an unusually busy day. As Liene was about to return to the main palace, the guards approached her.

[Guard] "Your Highness. A messenger has arrived from the Kingdom of Sharka. They are at the gate, requesting entry."

[Liene] "Pardon?"

[Guard] "They are not asking to see you, Your Highness. They said they brought a letter for the son of the Grand Duke of Alito, as he is staying here."

[Liene] "Ah......"

Dieren had mentioned his sister was the Princess Consort of the Kingdom of Sharka. If so, this was a messenger she could not refuse.

[Liene] "Verify their identity and open the gate. Ensure the guards accompany them when they move within the castle."

[Guard] "Understood."

---

The Kingdom of Sharka was the closest neighbor to Nauk and a place currently enjoying the glory that Nauk had lost twenty years ago. Due to the drought, many nobles and merchants had turned their backs on Nauk and migrated to Sharka. As a result, many families were linked by blood, and many even shared the same names.

Despite being so closely linked, exchanges between the royal families were rare. Perhaps it was because the relationship was one where one side was unilaterally losing. For Sharka, Nauk was a beehive that didn't need to be touched; if they just waited, the honey would eventually come to them.

[Liene] "Even so, things are different now."

Sharka was no longer a disconnected place. Since Tiwakan and the Grand Duchy of Alito were now connected, Sharka was involved as well.

Furthermore, the exiled Kleinfelter family was in Sharka. Although they were powerless now, having lost both status and fortune, Liene had to remain vigilant as long as the Kleinfelters' roots had not been entirely eradicated.

[Liene] "I cannot ignore this."

Liene muttered to herself as she knocked on the door to the room where Dieren was staying.

[Dieren] "......Princess? What brings you here?"

[Liene] "I heard a messenger arrived from the Kingdom of Sharka."

The door opened quickly. Dieren’s attendant wordlessly guided Liene into the room.

Dieren was sitting on the sofa, facing the messenger. In his hand was a letter, presumably from Sharka.

Liene sat across from him and glanced at the letter.

[Liene] "The Kingdom of Sharka is no longer just a distant foreign land to Nauk. I came to see if there has been any trouble."

[Dieren] "Trouble...... I see."

He crumpled the letter in his hand.

Seeing his hand tighten, she called out to him in surprise.

[Liene] "Prince Dieren?"

[Dieren] "......My sister’s husband has died. Three days ago... no, it’s been a day, so four days ago."

[Liene] "That... surely, you don't mean Prince Vasheyd of Sharka?"

[Dieren] "Yes."

It was shocking news.

[Liene] "From what I knew, he was a young and healthy man....... Was there an accident?"

He spoke, his jaw tightening. It was hard to tell if he was in shock or simply angry.

[Dieren] "An accident... I am not sure. There aren't enough details written here. It seems my sister wrote this in a state of confusion."

It was a lie.

The letter did contain news of her husband’s sudden death, but that was only a small part of it. The rest was filled with even more insane ramblings.

It was just like his sister. In the writing that merely stated her husband was dead without any context, there wasn't a single trace of grief.

His sister had started a dangerous gamble—a gamble whose goal was currently unknown.

Prince Vasheyd had been the First Prince of Sharka. Now that he was dead, his sister should have been busy securing her position, yet she was planning to cause trouble in another country.

[Liene] "That is understandable. Then, will you be going to the Kingdom of Sharka? Has the funeral already ended?"

[Dieren] "The funeral seems to be over. I... yes, I suppose I must. Since Sharka is closer than the way back to my home country, I should stay there for a while to comfort my sister."

[Liene] "Although I have not yet met the Princess Consort of Sharka, given the bond between Tiwakan and the Grand Duchy of Alito, please convey my deepest condolences."

[Dieren] "I will."

[Liene] "When do you depart?"

[Dieren] "Tomorrow... no, perhaps I should start moving as soon as preparations are ready, even if it's now."

[Liene] "Then let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I will assist you with all my heart."

[Dieren] "Thank you, Princess. I will send word if I need assistance. Please do not take offense at my rudeness, even if the hour is late."

[Liene] "In such a situation, it is absurd to speak of rudeness."

Prince Dieren, who had stopped giving her awkward compliments on her appearance, had become a much more sensible person. It was almost strange that such a man had occasionally acted so out of line until now.

[Liene] "Well then."

As Liene rose from her seat, Dieren bowed. After he finished his greeting, the attendant and the messenger from Sharka bowed in turn.

Klima followed Liene out, offering a simple nod instead of the formal etiquette he only vaguely knew.

Click.

After closing the door himself, Klima lowered his voice as much as possible.

[Klima] "He is strange. That man."

[Liene] "Who?"

[Klima] "That messenger."

Klima had been saying everything was strange for a while now.

[Liene] "In what way?"

[Klima] "Just... his expression..."

[Liene] "His expression...?"

[Klima] "He kept looking at you, Your Highness. While pretending not to. That’s why it’s strange. And his hand."

[Liene] "His hand?"

[Klima] "He kept one hand clenched. Only one hand. That is very strange."

It was suspicious, but these were vague things that couldn't be clearly challenged.

[Liene] "If that’s the case, we have no choice but to remain on guard for now."

[Klima] "We must be careful. It really is strange."

Anxiety seeped through her lips.

[Liene] "......I wish Lord Tiwakan would return soon."

It had only been a few hours since Black had left her side, but it already felt like days.

---

[Baiyar] "That was a close call."

The messenger from Sharka unclenched his hand. In his palm was a tiny bottle—so small that its purpose was indiscernible.

[Dieren] "What kind of madness is this!"

Dieren threw the letter he had been crumpling.

Cold sweat had soaked his palm, causing stains to spread across the paper.

[Baiyar] "Shh, Your Highness. If you speak so loudly, they will hear you outside."

The messenger sent by his sister was not a man of Sharka. He was a servant who had served the Grand Duke for a long time.

His sister had received a man of unknown origins—supposedly a former slave from the Kingdom of Lekes—as a wedding gift. Their father had shouted at her to take gold instead, but he could not break her stubbornness.

His name was Baiyar, if he recalled correctly. Even his name reeked of low birth, yet the man made no effort to change it.

[Dieren] "Answer me! Her husband is dead, so why is she telling me to bring her the Princess of another country? Even using a dangerous drug like Kabino!"

With a calm gesture, Baiyar signaled for him to lower his voice. Though he seemed agitated, Dieren had actually stopped yelling out of consciousness for those outside.

[Baiyar] "You misunderstood. I am saying you should administer the Kabino because we must take the Princess. It would be difficult to do so while she is conscious."

[Dieren] "I’m asking why!"

[Baiyar] "I do not know that much. I am simply following the Young Lady’s instructions."

Even now that his sister was married, Baiyar still called her "Young Lady" rather than "Princess Consort."

Dieren suspected the man had long been involved with her. That was none of his business, but seeing him act as if he were someone important in his sister’s life was nauseating.

[Dieren] "Are you telling me to risk my neck for something I don't even understand? Have you forgotten this is Tiwakan's den?"

[Baiyar] "I will handle that part myself."

[Dieren] "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

[Baiyar] "I will also be the one to administer the drug. Your Highness only needs to call the Princess of Nauk to this room at the appropriate time."

[Dieren] "Insane... do you think this plan will succeed? Do you think Tiwakan will just stand by?"

[Baiyar] "Their Commander is currently away, is he not?"

Dieren was not surprised because he didn't know Black had left the castle. He was surprised because Baiyar, who had just arrived, already knew that fact.

[Dieren] "How... how did you know that?"

[Baiyar] "I did not arrive today. I was already here, watching the situation."

[Dieren] "What? How long have you been here?"

[Baiyar] "I departed before Prince Vasheyd died."

[Dieren] "That’s... insane..."

Sending a letter saying someone was dead before they had actually died meant they knew the death was coming. Since the Prince hadn't been on his deathbed, there was only one conclusion.

His sister had killed Prince Vasheyd.

[Dieren] "She killed him... fine, fine. Let’s say she killed her husband because she was sick of him acting like a philanderer despite being weak. That’s my sister for you. But why kidnapping next? Does she even know who Princess Liene is? Why someone she has no grudge against... damn it."

Dieren’s face contorted mid-sentence.

[Dieren] "She still hasn't given up. On Tiwakan Commander."

Baiyar gave a vague smile—neither confirming nor denying—and repeated the same words.

[Baiyar] "As I said, I will handle it. Your Highness only needs to do one thing."

[Dieren] "......And if I refuse?"

[Baiyar] "Not much will change. I brought the poison, I am the Young Lady’s man, and I am the messenger who came here to see Your Highness."

It meant they were in the same boat regardless.

[Baiyar] "The Grand Duke feels the same way. For several years, His Grace has been saying that the gold sent to the Tiwakan is a waste."

[Dieren] "......"

In that moment, only one thought crossed Dieren’s mind. He should have left the moment Black released his wrist.

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